Automatic balanced valve.



PATBNTED MAR. 13, 1906.

No. 814,975.l

V P. H. MASON. AUTOMATIC BALANGBD VALVE.

';PPLIGATION FILED MAY 25, 1903.

No. 814,975. PATgNTEn-MARM l P. H. MA-som y `AUToJszrMrIo lBALANGBD VALVE.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1903.

110.814,975. y PATENTED MAR.13,1906.'

1 y F. H. MAsoN.

AUTOMATIC BALANGBD VALVE.

APPLIGATIN FILED MAY Z5, 1903.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED s'rATEs 'PAfrEivr oEEIoE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 13, 1906.

Application led May 25, 1903. Serial No. 158,689.

To dll whom t may con/cern: Be it knownthat I, FREDERIC H. MAsoN,

l a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Automatic Balanced Valve, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to valves for controlling the flow of fluids, as water, steam, air, &c.

cause where high pressures are employedg-to roduce such a valve as described which will e normally held on its seat by the, pressure of the uid, but which will automatically leave its seat when not subject to such pres` sure; to automatically admit air to the valve, so that the accumulated fluid may quickly escape and so prevent the freezing of the fluid therein; to avoid the use of packing in order to reduce friction while at the same,

time .the leaking of the fluid is` prevented to avoid the necessity of making adjustments to compensate for the wear of the valve proper; to induce by suction 'a rapid drainage of 4the accumulated fluid, so -as to prevent any afterllow of the fluid after the valve has been closed; to make the casing in sections, so that` parts may be exchanged for others of diHerf ent character, and to provide a valve Whose parts will be kept kfree from mud, slime, or other harmful matter.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1v is a 'vertical section of a valve constructed in retarding devicel .removed from the casing.

Fig. 7 isa view corresponding to Fig. 1, showing the position of the parts when the pressure is removed. Figs. 8 and 9 are detail perspective views of the two members of the retarding device detached. Fig. 10 is a similar view of the valve and valve-stem. Fig. 11 is a sectional plan view on the line 11 11 of Fig. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view of a form of knob and bonnet to be used when the valve is to be locked in open position. Fig.l 13 is a detail view of the bonnet. Fig. 14 isa sectional plan view on the line 14 14 of Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a sectional view of a form of valve to be used in connection with a radiator. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the knob used for the radiator-valve. Fig. 17 is a sectional view of a valve to be used for coffee-urns, water-coolers, wine-casks, and the like.

1 is the central section of one from of a valve constructed in accordance with my invention, This section includes the transverse bridge 2 and the spout or nozzle 3. The lower end of threaded upper end of the lower section 4 and is provided with the valve-seat 5, o ening into the lower side of the inner end of t e passage 16, from which spout 3 leads. v A fluid-inlet member or casing 6 is within the section 4 and has its upper end secured by screw-threads to a flange surrounding the valve-seat 5. Within this member6, which may be considered a valve-protector, is a valve-stem carrying at its upper end a valve 8, adapted to the valve-seat 5 and secured to the stem by the screw 9. The lower end 10 ofthe valve-stem constitutes aplunger, which reciprocates in an o ening in the bottomof the casing 6. The ower end of the piston, which is below or beyond the casing 6, has a reduced portion into which a screw l1 is passed to secure thereto the shell or cupshaped valve member 12, freely'rotatable on the said reduced portion of the piston. The shoulder 13, formed by reducing the piston, acts as a stop for the upward movement of the member 12. Preferably the reduced portion ofthe iston is slightly longer than the thickness o the bottom of the member 12 in order that the parts may be lubricated by the water, the screwhead may not bind the member, and the cost of manufacture may be the section 1 is threaded to receive the' IOO reduced, since skilled labor is not required to make, fit, or assemble the parts, they not requiring a nicety of adjustment or machinework.

The member 6 is near its bottom provided with one or more ports 14, whereby when the member 12 is lowered so as to uncover the port 14, as shown in Fig. 2, the fluid surrounding the casing 6 will enter the latter and pass out through the opening in the valveseat 5 and through the spout 3.

The member 6 has an angular wrench-engaging .face 15, by which it may be turned in assembling the valve. This face 15 and all enlargements of the member 6 are at a considerable distance above the top of the member 12 in order that as the valve 8 wears the member 12 may slide up on the member 6 to compensate therefor.

As a means for moving the valve 8 off from its seat I have shown a valve-rod 17 extending through an opening in the bridge 2 and provided at its upper end with a knob 1S. The lower end of the rod is rounded and fits in a shallow cavity in the head of the screw 9. This rod extends up through the bonnet or upper section 2() of the valve-casing, the bottom of this section being secured by screwthreads to the top of the section 1.

The top of the bridge 2 is recessed to form a space 21, into which fluid may flow around the valve-operating rod 17, this space and the space within the bonnet 2O forming a drainage-chamber, whose center slopes toward the periphery of the space 21'.

The fiuid passage 16 lies beneath the bridge 2 and extends slightly in front thereof. It is considerably smaller than the passage in the spout 8, and the outer end of the passage 16 merges by a ta'per into the interior surface of the spout. The bottom of the space 21 is connected to the taper portion of the discharge passage or spout 3 by a relatively small or contracted passage 22, which is inclined downwardly toward the spout. The passage 22 may be drilled, as the space 21 is comparatively shallow.

On top of the bonnet or section 20 is the knob 18, having a depending sleeve which reciprocates over the upper end of the bonnet. The bonnet is provided with a vent which is uncovered by the sleeve of the knob when in its highest position, as shown in Fig. 1, and closed when the same is lowered, as shown in Fig. 2. The knob 1S is provided on the top with a removable disk 24, bearing a mark indicating the kind or quality of the fiuid which it controls, it being held in a recess in the knob by a flangedring 24, whose periphery is threaded into corresponding threads in the recess, the disk being held in by a shoulder on the interior of the ring. The upper end of the rod 17 is inserted in a hole in the knob, and a screw 25, partly in the rod and partly in the knob, prevents the knob and rod from independent movement, and consequently separation.

Within the upper portion of the bonnet 2() I provide the rod 17 with a flange or collar 26, on which rests a ring 28 of rubber or the like, so that when the rod comes to its normal position, which is when the ring 2S engages with the fiange 27 of the bonnet, there will be no shock or noise. To lessen the noise when the valve-rod is depressed, I provide the bottom of the knob with a cushion disk or ring 31, which will contact with the flange 27.

I may, as shown in Fig. 12, provide the flange 27, which is here below the vent 23, with a recess 30, so as to leave a vent-opening at one side of the )ackingring between the drainage-chamber and the vent 23.

In Figs. 12, 13, and 14 I have shown a method whereby the valve may be locked open. The upper or sleeve portion 32 of the bonnet is provided with opposite bayonetslots 33, and the operating-rod 17 has a erosspin 34 projecting into said slots. When the knob has been depressed sufficiently, the rod is turned until the pin 34 enters the branch portions of the bayonet-slots, and thus the valve is locked open. The branches of the slots will be located at such a position the service may demand.

vWhen the valve is applied to radiators or to devices requiring similar work for the valve, I find it advisable to use a stuffingbox, as shown on Fig. 15, where 36 designates the packing, andr 37 the gland, located between the passage 16 and the bonnet. In this case it is also desirable to use a spring 38, seated between the top of the bonnet and the pin 34, to assist in moving the rod to its normal or raised position, though in most cases it will not be necessary. Its position protects it from the steam, and it is readily accessible for renewal in case the spring should be accidentally broken.

In Fig. 17 I have shown my valve for use where the fluid fiows by gravity, as in coffeeurns or receptacles for milk, cider, &c. Here the retarding device will not be necessary, though the knob, the drainage-chamber, and vent arc all retained. The spring is protected from corrosion.

The operation is as follows: Supposing the pipe which supplies the valve is filled with fluid under pressure and the parts are as shown in Fig. 1, the pressure of the fluid actingagainst the bottom of the member 13 will hold the valve 8 on its seat 5. W'hen pressureof any kind-such as that which may be exercised manually, mechanically, or through the intervention of a suitable electrical appliance-is applied to the valve-stem, the latter is at once moved away from its seat and carries with it the cup-shaped valve member 12,

ICO

IlO

upon the cup-shaped valve member 12, as av Isuctional force of considerable extent is developed below the inlet. member and the fluid l is drawn down through the space between the cup-shaped member andthe'ported inlet member, so that this space is gradually filled with the fluid and at the same time fluid to some extent enters between the cup-shaped member 12 and the inletmember to a said' piston and also enters in sma l quantities oint beloW around the lower reduced end` of stem 7. The

valve bein now opened and the. opening pressure re eased, the closing operation results from the pressure of the fluid which thevalve controls, and this pressure is of course exercised principally on the lower portion of the'cup-s aped member 12. The member 12 naturally moves to a closed position, and

i this movement .to some extent is assisted by the pressure onA the lower surface'of the valve and the flow of the current of fluidas in its passage it passes the valve. The closing pressure is materially resisted by the presence of the fluid in the space below the inlet member 6, and thus operates' somewhat'after the character of the familiar dash-pot, the fluid escaping very slowly between the inlet member 6 ,and the cup-shaped member 12, so

that the closing movement of the valve is very slow` and gradual and its movement cannot be materially hastened by fluctuation' in the pressure of the fluid, so that all chattering and hammeringaof the valvemember is entirely obviated. The valve closes grad- ',ually and quietly to itsl seat and effectually l cuts off the flow of the fluid until the .next

operation. v ,f

lIn a device constructed in laccordance with this inventionit is apparent that all hammering consequent to the radual contract1on o t fluid under high pressure will be avoided. When a valve of ordinary construction is moved to its seat, the discharge-opening between the valve and 'seat is gradually reduced in area, and if the fluid is under any reasonably high pressure the valve will chatter e against its seat until fully closed7 or if'held vs's partly open during either a closing or openor groaning ing movement this chatterin n the present case this is rendered impossible, for the reason that during the closing movement of the valve the slidabl'e or movable cup-shaped member will gradually close the ports of the stationary member and will thus graduallytend. to reduce the pressure in proportion'to the extent of travel of the valve-seat, and at the i point where the majority of valves begin to chatter the port or ports of the stationary A diators and the like.

he opening around t e valve against member will be fully lclosed and the main valve will be allowed to quietly assume a full closed position. When the valve is open, asl

.such fluid as may be in the drainage-chamber, thusallowin the fluid to'esca e very uickly throught e passage 22. hen the uid rushesbe ond t e passage 16, it gradually expands or the length of the tapered portion of the passage and so radually produces a suction or vacuum at t 's lace. As the passage 2,2 is connected at sai place the fluid in the draina e-chamber will be sucked out by the expansion of the fluid in the discharge-passage of thespout 3.

It is apparent that my retarding device may be used as an automatic air-vented check-valve or as Aan air-valve for steam-ra- It may have various other applications not above enumerated, and I do not desire to be limited to any parti'cular application thereof.

' The broad features of the present invention are claimed in my application, Serial No.

181,579, filed November 18, 1903, and the Vfiled April 20, 1903.

My invention is capable of many modifications, and I desire to include within the protection of my claims all changes which em'- ploy the principles ofthe same.

` Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination, a valve, a valve-seattherefor, a valve-stem having a piston member, a stationary. ported member forming a protecting device for thevalve, and a cup-` shaped member slidable upon the stationary member and serving as an auxiliary valve, said cup-shaped member having a loose connection with the' valve-stem.

2. In a device of the class specified, the combination with a main valve, a dischargespout, a valve-seat, a valve, a valve-chamber, a drainage-chamber connected to the discharge-spout, and a bonnet member having a vent-opening to permit the entrance of air to the drainage-chamber when the valve has been moved to closed position.

3. In a device of the class specified, a valvecasing having avalve-seat, a valve, a discharge-spout, a drainage-chamber connecting with the spout, a bonnet having a vent- IOO IIO

opening for the adrnission of air, a ange projeeting inward from the bonnet and having a recess forming an ainpassage, a valve-operating rod, a flange thereon, a cushion rneinber between the two fianges, and an operating-knob secured to the outer end of the rod.-

4. In a device of the class specified, avalveeasing having a discharge-passage, a drainage chamber in Communication therewith, an air-vent for placing the drainage-chamber in communication with the outer air, a valve,

a valve-operating rod, a spring for retraeting the rod, and a spring-inelosing easing :1rranged beyond the drainage-chamber.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as iny own I have hereto alixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIC H. MASON Witnesses J. KENNEDY STOUT, J. Ross COLHOUN. 

